Upper ball joint removal

[6instantaneous6]

Hey fellas,
I'm upgrading the front suspension on my TR and I'm a little stuck on removing the upper ball joints on the upper control arm. There are what seems to be steel rivets holding the ball joint in place. How do you remove those bad boys?

 

[86 TR]

Well, Ive found that the way that works best for me is to use an air chisel with a flat blade bit. Just be careful not to damage anything if you slip off. I do this to take to top of the rivet head off and then use a punch to get rid of the rivet.

Or you could use a die grinder and grind the tops off then punch them out. Not too bad a job.

The new ball joint will bolt in place. Thats the way they should have done it.

 

[novaderrik]

grind off the heads and pound the rivets out with a hammer and punch. the balljoint them falls out.
the new joint bolts in, with the nuts facing UP.

 

[87Gnastey]

X2. Use a grinder and make sure you are on the rivet and not making some unintentional modifications to your upper control arm.

 

[6instantaneous6]

Ok, thanks. Should start this on friday night. Quick question, would a dremel work?

 

[87Gnastey]

Probably with the right bit and a lot of time.